Breaking News: Asia

Asia-Pacific markets rise in Easter trade on hopes for Hormuz reopening
World

Asia-Pacific markets rise in Easter trade on hopes for Hormuz reopening

Asia-Pacific markets traded higher Friday, after news that Iran and Oman were drafting a protocol to “monitor transit” through the Strait of Hormuz raised hopes that the crucial waterway could partially reopen. Tanker traffic through the key oil-shipping route “should be supervised and coordinated” with the two countries, said Kazem Gharibabadi, Iran’s deputy foreign minister of […]

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Asia-Pacific markets extend recovery as investors await Trump address on Iran war
World

Asia-Pacific markets extend recovery as investors await Trump address on Iran war

An electronic quotation board displays the Nikkei 225 stock prices on the Tokyo stock Exchange in Tokyo on Nov. 5, 2025. Greg Baker | Afp | Getty Images Asia-Pacific markets ticked higher on Thursday, tracking similar moves on Wall Street as investors await an address by Donald Trump later in the day amid hopes that […]

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Asia-Pacific markets set to rebound as Trump comments raise hopes of Iran war ending in weeks
World

Asia-Pacific markets set to rebound as Trump comments raise hopes of Iran war ending in weeks

IBARAKI, JAPAN – JUNE 17: Technicians at work in the clean room of the Fab Equipment at a semiconductor company, Renesas Technology Corp. on June 17, 2004 in Ibaraki, Japan. Renesas is the first company to produce semiconductor products from 300mm wafer in the world. (Photo by Koichi Kamoshida/Getty Images) Koichi Kamoshida | Getty Images […]

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China’s factory activity returns to growth, expanding at its sharpest pace in a year
World

China’s factory activity returns to growth, expanding at its sharpest pace in a year

LIANYUNGANG, CHINA – FEBRUARY 28: Employees produce stuffed toys for export at a toy factory on February 28, 2026 in Lianyungang, Jiangsu Province of China. Si Wei | Visual China Group | Getty Images China’s official gauge for manufacturing activity climbed more than expected in March to mark its best performance in a year and snapping […]

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Trump reportedly warns to ‘take the oil in Iran’ as Tehran targets water, power plants in Kuwait
World

Trump reportedly warns to ‘take the oil in Iran’ as Tehran targets water, power plants in Kuwait

Smoke rises from the direction of an energy installation in the Gulf emirate of Fujairah on March 14, 2026. Smoke could be seen rising from the direction of a major UAE energy installation on March 14, in what appeared to be the latest strike targeting the Gulf’s petroleum facilities hours after the US struck Iran’s […]

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Trump wants to squeeze Iran into peace talks with more troops — but it may backfire, analysts say
Politics

Trump wants to squeeze Iran into peace talks with more troops — but it may backfire, analysts say

WASHINGTON DC, UNITED STATES – MARCH 20: United States President Donald Trump (R) speaks to the press before his departs the White House en route Miami, Florida on March 20, 2026, in Washington DC. Celal Gunes | Anadolu | Getty Images Nearly a month into the Iran war, the United States is preparing to send […]

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EU, Australia seal trade deal as Western countries hedge against U.S. risks
World

EU, Australia seal trade deal as Western countries hedge against U.S. risks

Maros Sefcovic, trade commissioner for the European Union (EU), from left, Ursula von der Leyen, president of the European Commission, Anthony Albanese, Australia’s prime minister, and Don Farrell, Australia’s trade minister, during a news conference at Parliament House in Canberra, Australia, on Tuesday, March 24, 2026. Hilary Wardhaugh | Bloomberg | Getty Images The European […]

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Japan core inflation in February misses estimates, headline CPI eases for a fourth straight month
World

Japan core inflation in February misses estimates, headline CPI eases for a fourth straight month

TOKYO, JAPAN – FEBRUARY 05: Tourists and shoppers walk through the Tsukiji shopping area on February 5, 2026 in Tokyo, Japan. Tomohiro Ohsumi | Getty Images News | Getty Images Japan’s headline inflation rate eased for a fourth straight month in February as the economy cooled on stabilizing food prices, with subsidies shielding consumers from […]

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Iran and U.S.-Israel continue to raise the stakes as Strait of Hormuz tensions build
World

Iran and U.S.-Israel continue to raise the stakes as Strait of Hormuz tensions build

U.S. President Donald Trump speaks to the press before departing the White House for Miami on March 20, 2026, in Washington, D.C. Celal Gunes | Anadolu | Getty Images As the war in the Middle East entered its fourth week, Iran has widened its warnings to target buyers of U.S. Treasury bonds, the latest salvo […]

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Asia markets track Wall Street losses as Iran war fuels energy worries; BOJ rate decision on deck
World

Asia markets track Wall Street losses as Iran war fuels energy worries; BOJ rate decision on deck

The Bank of Japan (BOJ) headquarters in Tokyo, Japan, on Thursday, Oct. 31, 2024. The Bank of Japan kept its benchmark interest rate unchanged. Getty Images Asia-Pacific markets dipped on Thursday, tracking losses on Wall Street that saw the Dow Jones Industrial Average touch a new closing low for the year. The Federal Reserve held […]

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